30,000 expected for Blue Hill Fair this weekend

BLUE HILL, Maine — It just wouldn’t be Labor Day without the Blue Hill Fair.

Organizers are busy putting the final touches on the annual event, which starts Thursday and runs through the holiday weekend.

Since 1891 the fair has drawn people from surrounding communities to the Blue Hill Fairgrounds to share food, go on rides and watch live performances.

According to organizers, the most important part of the fair has always been tradition.

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“A lot of memories come out of this for everyone, for workers and for the people who go,” fair President Rob Eaton said Monday.

Eaton expects around 30,000 people to attend the event.

“It really depends on the weather,” he said.

This year’s events will feature many time-tested favorites, including pig races, vegetable and flower shows, and an antique tractor pull.

Smokey’s Greater Shows will provide the mechanical rides for the event.

“We try to keep it as close to a traditional country fair as we can,” said Eaton. “There’s not too much new this year, but we’ve expanded on some things from last year.”

Last year the fair added a second entertainment stage that broadened the offerings.

The comedy juggling duo the Airborne Comedians will return this year with shows throughout the weekend. Several local bands including King Pirogi and the Gilpin Railroad Incident also will take the stage.

Other music featured throughout the weekend will include jazz, rock and roll, blues and polka bands such as the John Penny Band.

The Great Maine Lumber-jack Show will have demonstrations of ax-throwing, speed-chopping and log rolling Saturday afternoon.

As always animals will play a large part in the fair, with 4-H having cattle shows, oxen contests and llama demonstrations throughout the weekend.

A wild blueberry pancake breakfast will be available Saturday morning.

“We can’t wait,” Eaton said. “It is a place for the community to get together and spend time seeing one another.”

The gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28

Admission prices for adults are $5 Thursday and $8 Friday through Monday. On Friday, admission for seniors is reduced to $4. Children under 12 are free. All shows are free with admission.